Imaginary Worlds

"He's a good kid, I like. And I'll see the both of you this weekend," the Master offered as he walked outside with the Doctor, hands in his pockets. He was just saying farewell politely.

When the Doctor was in his car, he waved the man off, hoping Marnal wouldn't stress the Doctor too much for being late.

The Doctor headed home quick enough, sighing softly as he paid the sitter. Right. He sought out his son and offered a smile. "Hey. Sorry to have kept you waiting." he said softly.

And he was. He hadn't meant to stay out so late. "Mr. Saxon called me and I went to say hi." he explained.

"S'okay," Marnal offered with a small smile as he played with Rose, tossing her the ball and letting her bring it back. The dog was a useful gift, it kept Marnal amused. And the babysitter was nice.

It wasn't totally the end of the world though he did miss his dad as always. "Did you have fun with Mr Saxon?"

"We watched a film together." the Doctor granted in terms or response as he sat beside the other. He didn't see anything wrong there.

"So you like Rose, huh? She's a lively thing." he mused lightly, grinning. That was always a good thing.

"She's great, I talk to her about everything and she's always happy! It's much easier than being friends with the other kids," Marnal struggled to make friends and socialise but much like Koschei, it was easier with animals.

And finally he had someone who could match his energy levels. He smiled and offered his dad the ball. "Do you want to throw it to her?"

"I'd love to." he assured as he took the ball, lightly tossing it for the puppy. The dog didn't hesitate to fetch the object happily.

He couldn't help but smile. "I'm glad that you're happy. That's why I got her." he assured softly.

"It's good to be happy, we haven't happy much lately," Marnal admitted, not just him but he noticed it in the Doctor. They argued a lot and had plenty of fights, it often upset him.

But things were slowly getting a bit better, he hoped they stayed this way. "I wish we didn't get upset with one another."

"People fight. It's just a fact of life." the Doctor said soflty. No getting around that. But then again? He doubted that Marnal would understand.

"But we are happy. We're getting better." the Doctor said softly. He couldn't help himself.

"I don't want people to fight... and I don't want us to fight," Marnal insisted, he didn't see the world in that sort of way, he saw the world as capable of being good and kind.

It was childish innocences, was all. He shot his father a bright smile. "We will be, we'll be very happy."

"It's fine. We will be happy. We're always happy." the Doctor said softly. It wasn't easy, but the point still stood. They pulled through.

The Doctor was positive that everything would work out in the end. How could it not? So long as they tried, nothing would stop them.

Marnal nodded before giving his dad a curious look. "I'm really hungry, can we have something to eat?" the boy asked, they'd already eaten but he was still pretty hungry.

He couldn't help it, he really fancied something. "Can I have a sandwich at all or not?"

The Doctor smiled softly and nodded. "Come on and I'll make you something. Have you eaten at all already?" he asked softly.

He needed to at least check. Particularly if the other was only asking for a sandwich.

"I'm just hungry," the boy confessed with a shrug, might be because he skipped lunch today, he hadn't been very hungry and he hadn't wanted to be with the other man.

"Can you teach me to make a sandwich?" the boy asked, he didn't know if it was proper cooking but he knew the Doctor liked doing it and he kind of wanted to try and share a hobby.

The Doctor smile despite himself and nodded. "Of course I can. What sort of sandwich do you want?" he asked softly.

He might as well ask. What kid didn't like a choice in simple things such as this?

"Peanut butter and jelly?" he suggested with a playful smile, he was still young and his options when it came to food were always a bit cliche for a boy of five but hey, he was curious.

He was never sure how it worked and how the Doctor managed to make both stay on the bread without getting his hands very sticky.

The Doctor smiled softly as he got Marnal up on a chair to watch as he made the sandwich, explaining what to do as he went along. They were always so easy to do. He couldn't complain much.

"There. One peanut butter and jelly sandwich." the Doctor announced as he put it on a plate. It was honestly that simple.

The boy beamed at his father anyway as he picked up the sandwich and carefully brought it to the table so he didn't make a mess. He had been well trained on those sort of things.

"Thanks dad, I'll make one next time," no doubt he'd get it a bit everywhere but he was just trying to copy his father, what boy didn't want to be just like his dad?

The Doctor just shook his head as he took a seat. "Hush. You don't make anything if I'm not there, okay? Ways ask and always have supervision." he said slowly.

He just wanted Marnal to be safe. The Doctor didn't want the kid to slip up or anything.

"Course, I know that, I mean when we next have dinner together. I can make it," it was his own way of cooking for his father, it wasn't perfect but he wanted to try was all.

He loved his father and he just wanted to impress him a little bit, it was worth a shot. "I like when we're both at home for dinner."

The Doctor smiled softly and nodded. "Of course. You can do that. Just not on your own." he assured softly.

He was glad Marnal seemed interested in a hobby of sorts. It was a promising sign.

Marnal nodded his head as he started to eat his sandwich, making short work of it before he slid the empty plate onto the counter by the sink and wandered off to find Rose.

He didn't want to over-crowd his dad and if he wanted to do something, Marnal was sure he'd say so.

The Doctor let the lad go, instead simply cleaning up. He wasn't complaining here. It gave him something to do that was constructive.

Though he could only entertain himself for so long. He sought his son out on e more and offered a small smile. "Hey. Let's go somewhere tomorrow." he said lightly.

"Really?" Marnal beamed brightly as he got to his feet in excitement, he loved going places with his father and he didn't think the man would openly suggest it. He assumed he'd be working.

"Where can we go?" he asked with a curious expression, the picture he'd been drawing long forgotten.

"I don't know yet. I think we should just go for a drive somewhere." he said simply. The lad liked it and this wasn't his first time up and leaving.

Surely Marnal wouldn't mind being cooped up for a bit. He never had before on these little outings.

Marnal nodded, he didn't mind, he loved times like this. Usually the Doctor was very well planned and careful but sometimes he just impulsively took him on trips or to fun places.

They always make things worthwhile. He did sincerely love it. "I can't wait, I miss doing stuff with you."